Glenavon's Gary Hamilton said: "That's the best surface we've come across this season."

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Glens will be one heck of team when I get my players on pitch: Haveron

By Alex Mills

Glentoran boss Gary Haveron can't wait for the day he has a full squad available!

He admits he's again "down to the bare bones" ahead of today's Danske Premiership clash with Ards at the Oval.

In fact, since Haveron moved into the east Belfast club's hotseat two months ago, he is yet to experience the luxury of leaving anyone out of the squad!

"I've never known an injury list like it," he said. "I'm not talking about fringe players, these are mainstream guys that would probably walk into any side in the league."

Calum Birney and Stephen McAlorum are the latest to join the queue for the treatment room. But they'll be behind Stevie O'Flynn, Marcus Kane, David Scullion, Nacho Novo and Stephen Gordon.

"Birney sustained a hip injury last week against Glenavon, while McAlorum tweaked a knee - it was nothing to do with his cruciate ligament operation. It's frustrating for him because he was just easing his way back after being out for 10 months.

"O'Flynn was making good progress after a long lay off, but he hurt a calf muscle in training. Kane trained on Thursday and looked good. However, the Ards game will come too soon for him, while Gordon has a back injury. I'm basically down to counting heads again!"

Haveron admits it has been a frustrating start to his reign at the Oval, adding: "Obviously, with having so many players out, it's difficult to play the brand of football I want. I want to entertain the fans, but it's a results driven business, so the priority to was to start putting points on the board.

"We were leaking too many goals - that had to be addressed. We then had to try and become more difficult for teams to beat us. We've suffered only one defeat in six outings, so we are getting there. The players that came in have been great, and I've had to rely on a few young lads as well in Karl Hamill and Patrick Cafolla.

"I keep preaching to our players that it's a privilege to play for Glentoran - it's a massive club. It's up to them whether they stay or not. I consider it a privilege it to manage what is a great institution in Irish League football.

"At the end of the season, I have to make recommendations to the board on what players I think are an asset and what players should be released - they will all be judged on how they perform on the pitch."

Even though is team has been ravaged by injury, Haveron, is still full of ambition, adding: "Our aim is to make it into the top six and be part of the European play-offs - that's how we can move forward.

"You only have to look at the top three or four sides on how they have benefited from the Euro cash. Tell me one club who couldn't use that money?"

With Ards next up, Haveron admits it will be another difficult afternoon.

"I have a lot of time for their manager Niall Currie - he has done a fantastic job," added Haveron.

"Niall has had success at every club he has been at.

"I've warned out boys they have to being their 'A' game with them. But if we have aspirations of climbing the table, it's a match we have to win."

Belfast Telegraph

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